Communitech is using the latest technology to help companies find suitable candidates to fill some of the 1,300 specialized tech jobs currently available in Waterloo Region. More than 15 companies will participate in the TechVibe Online Career Fair Tuesday, Feb. 28thfrom noon until 6 p.m. EST, which will feature virtual booths and enable live conversations between recruiters and candidates.

“We’re excited to use technology to full advantage to attract candidates from farther afield, particularly the U.S., to help companies meet their recruiting needs,” said Karen Gallant, Senior Director Talent Networks at Communitech. “Going virtual extends our reach to those unable to attend our live events, including ex-patriat Canadians contemplating returning from Silicon Valley or other locales around the world.”

Through the virtual fair, interested candidates can upload and submit their resumes for various job listings in a secure environment. Recruiters will chat privately with applicants either through instant chat or webcam. Candidates can also connect with fellow attendees via an on-line networking lounge, and view informational videos about hiring companies in the virtual auditorium.

“We’ve tried to structure this as a replica of the live career fair experience but in a virtual, 3D version,” said Gallant. “The fair set-up will be integrated with Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn so that ‘attendees’ can search for connections or update their status in real time.”

Participating companies include:

Agfa HealthCare

Blue Coat

Christie Digital Systems Canada Inc.

Core Avionics and Industrial LLC

Desire2Learn

Enflick

Formulating Change

McAfee, Inc.

Miovision Technologies Inc.

One-eighty Corp

OpenText

Procom

Qwalify Inc.

RDM Corporation

Sortable

The virtual environment will be accessible to job seekers for 30 days after the ‘live’ date. While applicants will still be able to apply for jobs, the chat rooms will not be manned by recruiters after the event, Gallant explained.

Communitech has noticed significant movement between tech hotbeds like Silicon Valley and Waterloo Region, with talent flowing between the two regions as well as other tech centers such as Boston and other Canadian cities.

Communitech recently reported that 1,441 new jobs and 531 new companies were created in Waterloo Region over the past three years.